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Justice News

Winchester Man Sentenced on Child Pornography Production Charge

Phillip Daniel Rush Admitted to Sexually Exploiting Two Minor Girls

Harrisonburg, VIRGINIA – A 65-year-old Winchester man, who previously pled guilty to exploiting two young girls, was sentenced yesterday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg.

Phillip Daniel Rush, 65, of Winchester, Va., previously pled guilty to one count of production of child pornography. Yesterday in District Court, Rush was sentenced to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release thereafter. Rush was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.

“Mr. Rush has admitted to sexually exploiting young girls. His actions earned him a lengthy stay in federal prison,” Acting United States Attorney Anthony P. Giorno said today. “Mr. Rush is a sexual predator and he and others who engage in such acts will be held criminally accountable for their acts. We will continue to use every legal tool available to us in order to protect the most vulnerable amongst us, our children.”

According to a factual summary filed during Rush’s guilty plea hearing, around July 2012, Rush exploited a seven-year-old girl and an eight-year-old girl while they were visiting him. The defendant filmed the two girls engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Specifically, Rush turned on the webcam of his computer and provided a sexual device to one of the girls. He also later provided a jar of Vaseline. The defendant can be seen during various portions of the hour-long film. An adult pornography movie can be heard playing in the background.

The Winchester Police Department began the investigation into Rush after the mother of an older child notified police that her child had viewed the video of the two minor girls Rush’s computer.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Winchester Police Department, the United States Secret Service and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nancy S. Healey prosecuted the case for the United States.